Mobile City Council - Live updates; Exempting Ladd-Peebles neighbors from paying fees

Jerryln London, who owns private property next to Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., holds up her receipt from paying a one-day business license during the Senior Bowl on Jan. 25, 2014. London said it was the first time she can ever recall having to pay a license to allow the public to pay to park their vehicles on her private property. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

MOBILE, Alabama -- The City Council's agenda for Tuesday includes an item that was first considered last week to exempt residents who live near Ladd-Peebles Stadium from having to pay a temporary business license if they open their yards for paid parking during events.

Some of the property owners were approached during the Jan. 25 Reese's Senior Bowl game by a city revenue officer demanding that property owners pay for a temporary business license. Some residents opted not to do so, and were fined.

The issue will come up during the council meeting. As always, follow along here as I will post periodic live updates during the meeting. The pre-conference starts at 9 a.m. followed by the 10:30 a.m. regular session.

11:42 a.m. - Richardson said the addition of two new city "divisions" or departments should be added onto the council's agenda for approval before the amended budget is added to the agenda next week. He said he wants to see the process handled legally.

11:39 a.m. - Councilman Joel Daves said after the amended 2014 budget is taken care of and voted on next Tuesday, he hopes the fiscal year 2015 budget process preserves capital funds for infrastructure improvements. He said he doesn't want to see a continued practice of utilizing capital funds for operations.

11:32 a.m. - The council approved five grant applications for a variety of police initiatives focused mostly on hot-spot enforcements.

11:30 a.m. - The council approved the final contract needed to start the first phase of improvements on Ann Street. The $165,247 contract was approved with unanimous consent. Small, who represents the district, said he's pleased to see the project get started. The area that will be focused is between Douglas and Tennessee streets near Craighead Elementary School.

11:25 a.m. - Councilman C.J. Small said he will not vote in favor of contracts in future years for portable toilets at city parks unless all of the city's parks are examined to see where restroom facilities are needed. Small said McNally Park, which hosts events, has no facilities. The council unanimously approved a $8,100 contract for portable toilets.

11:23 a.m. - The private property exemption on temporary business licenses at Ladd-Peebles Stadium has been laid over for two weeks. No decision today.

11:21 a.m. - Councilman Fred Richardson announced a 1 p.m. committee meeting for next Tuesday on the ninth floor at Government Plaza focusing on the form-based code. He said the Downtown Mobile Alliance is invited to attend and to describe what the benefits are with form-based codes.

11:18 a.m. - Councilman Levon Manzie said the goal with the Downtown Development District -- the form-based code -- is to have more input into the DeTonti Square Historic District. He said there are some folks who believe the council should move forward with the code even if the majority of people in DeTonti disagree with the rezoning proposals. He said he disagrees with that, but realizes some people might be disappointed with the final outcome.

10:59 a.m. - Stimpson mentioned a report on TV news about litter on Rabbit Creek Road. He said it was an embarrassing thing and that city crews were out cleaning it up today. He said a similar situation of illegal dumping occurred there in October. He said that the city is going to take a different approach in enforcing litter. "If we catch the people doing it, they will pay a price and will be shocked at
what we do to prosecute them."

10:51 a.m. - Mayor Sandy Stimpson declared Opening Day for the Mobile BayBears season as "Bill Shanahan Day" in Mobile. Shanahan, the outgoing president and COO for the BayBears, is relocating to South Carolina. Councilman John Williams said all Opening Days at Hank Aaron Stadium will be dedicated to Bill Shanahan. Mayor Sandy Stimpson said if it wasn't for Shanahan, Hank Aaron's boyhood home would not be at the ball park where it serves as museum.

9:24 a.m. - The council will vote on a series of police grants the departments wants to apply to and with one that pursues support for the city's hot-spot enforcement program.

9:20 a.m. - The budget will come up for discussion during the council's 2 p.m. finance committee meeting. A vote on the budget will not come up until next week.

9:17 a.m. - The council had no discussion and will likely approve a $174,792 contract with Bill Smith Electric to install athletic field lighting at James Seals Park.

9:14 a.m. - The Ladd-Peebles parking issue has been laid over for two more weeks so the council's attorney can have further talks with the Police Department regarding policing the neighborhood to make sure people who are not allowed to park cars on private properties are not doing so.

9:12 a.m. - The council will lay over the Downtown Development District for a couple of weeks and the city's form-based code will go the Public Services Committee for further consideration. The issue involves DeTonti Square's rezoning considerations and Councilman Levon Manzie said there are still concerns within the neighborhood and people are split over the issue.